Starting with the budget hearing for the Department of Health and Human Services, Director Flanigan outlined the range of activities conducted by the department. She highlighted the Division of Immigrant Affairs’ achievements, emphasizing the toolkit funded by the Department of Justice, which made Jersey City the only municipality in the country with such certification. The department’s support for Afghani and Ukrainian residents with temporary protected status and their continual partnership with organizations aiding individuals in need were also underscored.

Flanigan also discussed the department’s community health initiatives. The Division of Injury Prevention’s peaceful families program, the multilingual job fair attended by over 600 clients, and an expanded offering of classes and multilingual service providers were among the initiatives detailed. The department’s efforts in disease prevention include a city clinic offering immunizations to children and HIV testing services, which has seen an increase in testing rates.

In terms of budgetary concerns, Flanigan clarified that this year’s budget request does not include the grant offset due to funding issues experienced in the previous year. She stated, “We’re sharing with you true costs in the actual budget.”

The council also discussed the Yugov pilot, an online system for reporting city closures. Despite the absence of photos, Flanigan confirmed the reports would include a checklist aligned with the state code. Additionally, the animal control budget was considered, with a proposed increase from $1 million to $1.5 million to cover the full operational requirements of the department. Councilman Solomon inquired about the city’s animal control services, to which Flanigan assured that sheltering and adoption services would be included.

The council meeting also covered the Department of Administration’s operations, with an overview of its structure, personnel, and budget. The department, headed by the administrator, oversees the day-to-day operations of the city, with each employee assigned to different departments. Significant attention was given to the court system, with a proposal to create assistant chief judges for various areas to improve efficiency. This proposal, aiming to separate specialized tasks from regular criminal proceedings, is expected to be introduced in December and potentially approved in January.

The council also addressed the need for security enhancements in courtrooms, such as panic buttons and random security entrances. They are also considering launching an online service for fine payments and scheduling, as well as a phone relay system for non-English-speaking callers.

In the area of human resources, the council discussed the need for employees to apply for titles that match their actual job responsibilities and the necessity of an oversight committee to improve employee morale. The council also expressed concerns about the significant increase in professional services expenses and workers’ compensation claims and requested more information to understand these increases.

Lastly, the council discussed the success of a pilot program for reverse tax appeals, which resulted in nearly $1.6 million in additional annual revenue. They also discussed step increases for attorney salaries and the need for additional positions, including litigation attorneys and a labor and employment specialist.